I've been doing prenatal yoga with Jalpa mam for the last few weeks and it's been amazing! The…read moreattention to detail, correcting of postures to ensure that the benefits are attained, it's top notch. She also pushes you with safety in mind and gives you a real workout. I'm hoping to continue till delivery to ensure strength and flexibility through my pregnancy.

Jalpa doesn't just teach yoga in her classes. She also ensures your emotional well-being in the…read moreprocess. The experience is so good because she's invested in your overall wellness - physical as well as emotional.

I've known Charina for a while now, she is the best yoga ‍ instructor I had. She taught me that…read moreyoga is for mind and body, and you have to respect your body's limitations. She is simply amazing, she spends time to get to know you, and every time she sees you, she knows where you are in your yoga journey, and gives you individual feedback to improve your postures. The shala itself is full of peace and as soon as I walk it, I feel good. She uses aroma therapy sometimes and always asks us whether we want any essential oil. Once I participated in her yin yoga practice and she did sound healing as well, which was AMAZING experience. I will recommend her to any body newbie or experienced yoga practitioner to participate in.

I think Charina is one of the best yoga teachers in the Bay Area. She is attentive to students'…read moreneeds and accommodate her teaching to individual needs while encouraging students to do always more and making you feel comfortable in the process. She cares about her students as well as yoga itself very much, and you can feel her quiet passion and dedication to the practice. I personally experienced amazing changes in my body through Ashtanga practice. If you are ready to commit yourself, I highly recommend Charina's classes.

I'd never tried hot yoga before, and a mom friend dragged me into it. NGL, the first class was pure…read moretorture. It was HOT! And challenging! ...come to think of it, the second and third classes were also pure torture, haha. But since the moves are the same each time, the learning curve is steep, and I enjoy how it forces me to focus on my body and my form. I've done various kinds of dance and exercise and at my age I appreciate how yoga works on strength, flexibility AND balance. It's a full body workout in one hour and while the heat may seem excessive or gimmicky, I can attest to the fact that between the circulatory boost and the induced sweating from every pore, it at least does wonders for the skin. This location has many students who have been going for years and you can really see how yoga has shaped their bodies--aspirational, if a bit intimidating! As a final note, the pricing can't be beat. It's less than half the cost of a pilates membership for monthly unlimited. Oh, and if you're new to this, definitely bring a towel for your yoga mat and another to wipe your face. You'll really need both! And a giant water bottle! (Cold water is available on the premises.)

Great instructors & supportive participants. Studio is…read morespacious clean . Showers available. No pics available

I tried Lupe's yoga class for the first time yesterday on Zoom and was pleasantly rewarded with a…read morecalmness I needed at that moment. As an avid "chair yogi' I found my first class to be a bit challenging on the floor yet very doable. Because Lupe presented alternate pose options I was able to keep up. What I really liked was Lupe's flexible and clear instruction. I also appreciated her incorporation of yoga poses using lots of stretching and stimulating exercises. Namaste'

As an avid yogi, enjoyed Lupe's gentle style. She gave options for variations of poses & I liked…read morethe variety of poses...what a great class!

Payal is always on time to our group sessions. She provides…read moremodifications to the poses I struggle with to make the practice accessible to me. She mixes up the poses so it isn't routine, and exposed us to different moves. I look forward to our sessions. My ears end up several inches lower after practicing with her.

If you are looking for a yoga teacher, I would recommend Payal in a HEARTBEAT!…read more I worked with Payal in-person during my third trimester and postpartum periods and it was an amazing experience! Payal was super knowledgable and came prepared to each class with a routine that perfectly catered to what I needed in that moment. For example, during my third trimester, we worked on strengthening my legs & breathing and loosening my pelvic floor while during postpartum, we focused on working my core and tightening my muscles. Payal is super passionate about what she does and finds true joy in seeing her clients succeed - her enthusiastic "YES"es when I achieved a pose or improved my form made me feel so happy and motivated. I can definitively say that Payal's yoga classes contributed to a smoother delivery and postpartum recovery. Additionally, Payal is kind, punctual, and professional and our relationship has evolved into a real friendship!

It is always a pleasure to visit the center for courses, kriya follow-ups, knowledge sessions,…read moresatsangs, service opportunities, social gatherings, etc. The teachers are very knowledgeable and warm. I'd like to thank all volunteers whose efforts are helping us progress on our spiritual path. I attend the knowledge sessions here and the teachers go the extra mile again and again to ensure we've understood the main takeaways. They're also very open to conducting repeat sessions which help immensely. This is one place where the trinity of sadhana, seva and satsang can be joyfully practised for holistic development of the mind and spirit.

They are only after your money. They want to rip you off with exorbitant prices. Any opportunity…read morethey get is to find a way to get more money out of you. They only serve those who are dumb and have money to throw on their so-called programs. Please do not take the bait when they invite you for their "free" "workshops" or "sessions" as that's how they'll get you in and then the rip off begins.

Yoga Bharati is an authentic institute that teaches Yoga as it was meant to be taught. The teachers…read moreare extremely well trained, understand the impact of asanas and instruct clearly. Variations are incorporated for many routines to provide choices due to physical limitations. I have enjoyed attending classes and experiencing both physical benefits as well as mental relaxation through the rich breathing and meditative practices.

Yoga Bharati takes care of Physical health and Emotional health simultaneously through right…read moreposture, breathing,meditation and Pranayama. In couple of months with the instructor's help, I was able to do all my postures with breathing awareness that led to make my breathing rhythmic. With rhythmic breathing I was able to slow down my mind which helped me to deal any stressful situation in a positive manner. The most important thing i learned in Yoga Bharati is to take rest at least for a few seconds after every posture which develops an awareness of your being and strengthens mental and emotional health. I love workshops which are conducted by Yoga Bharati on different topics of health like digestive issues,Gastro problems, vision issues and Ayurvedic lifestyle etc....

It is with a heavy heart I write this review, but feel aspiring yoga teachers should know what they…read moreare getting into at Doron Yoga. I am a 51 year old male business owner who did a lot of damage to his body playing the wrong sports. Ashtanga yoga literally changed my life, physically, mentally and spiritually. After only a year of practicing I decided to pursue the 200 YTT, more to accelerate my personal practice (which is a work-in-progress :) than actually teach. Doron Yoga looked ideal, he has a great background, I practice ashtanga & yin, plus 3 weeks of vegetarian meals on Lake Atitlan in Guatemala does not suck :). Location / Property: - It is located in Tzununa, a small very poor town in a developing country outside of San Marcos (tourist town). - The property itself is great, but isolated. - Ananda rooms are clean, housekeepers are great. Food is simple, good and healthy. Meals lacked protein, but I asked and the kitchen staff accommodated. - Shala has a wonderful view - There is literally an empty lot where people dump and burn their garbage down the road. At times you can smell burning garbage in the shala. - Wild dogs barking at night will keep up light sleepers. Safety: - A German girl was walking alone during the day, and a man tried to rob her phone. She got away with a scrapped up leg (which started the conversation). - One of the participants in our group and her boyfriend went out in San Marcos on Sat night (20 mins away). The tuk-tuk (3 wheeled cabs) drivers would not take them back to Doron Yoga for safety concerns. On the walk back, they heard a group of loud drunk young males and ended up hiding on a roof out of precaution. - Wild dogs are everywhere in Guatemala, will follow you and heard bites are not uncommon. Yoga Teacher Training: - You will learn the 8 limbs of yoga. Doron is very knowledgable, and I really enjoyed the history / philosophy discussions. - Up at 6:20am for Zen meditation and breathwork was great. - The Doron Yoga teacher manual is great. He summarizes and condenses information from other books really well. - You will be impressed by his asana practice, entertained by his antics (for a while), singing "i love my hamstrings" during Pyramid pose, but find it hard to reach pratyahara (withdrawal of senses). - You will learn and practice "Doron Yoga". Nothing wrong with that, but don't use ashtanga and yin in descriptions if you are only going to use a few ashtanga poses and will hold a stretch for a few minutes. - You will not learn the Ashtanga Yoga asana practice (we practiced lead primary twice and not by Doron, no Mysore) - You will not learn what I know a Yin yoga practice to be - meditative, focused on deep stretches and breathing. Doron, throws a pigeon pose during his flow and holds it for a few minutes, then back to his vinyasa. - You will hear about the flaws of Ashtanga, Mark Stevens and his other mentors... Seriously you are slamming your teachers, and the background that got me here? People Issues: - 2 of the 7 participants in our group wanted to leave at one point. - I was never at the point of leaving, but did have seconds thoughts and "bite my tongue". During class I was asked to lead Sun A. I did it the "Doron Yoga way". Afterwards he says "what was that" in a demeaning tone. - At a low point, Doron brought us all together to hear concerns. It was nice and needed because morale was low, but also very polished, like it happens a lot. He is intelligent and speaks well. - Volunteer turnover due to treatment. I read reviews about this, and thought could just be disgruntled, immature 20 year olds (sorry) not wanting to work. Then witnessed a hardworking family from Belgium leave after 3 days because of treatment. Another girl left with them. - Apparently Doron's assistant instructor left. During a New Year's retreat, he convinced an experienced yoga instructor from Guatemala to stay and work as his assistant for our January teacher training. She was a wonderful person and experienced yoga instructor, but did not know his manual or have his 30 years experience. She led everything and we did not see Doron on Wednesdays, Sundays and a couple of sporadic days. She stayed until our training ended, and left with us. She was awesome, but needed mentoring and to be treated better. Billing Issues: - Widespread billing "issues". 4 different guests in and outside our group had issues with over-billing. When I inquired to double check, it literally took 8 emails to get an answer and was handled very poorly. The administration person I booked with left before I arrived, and the administration person I had issues with left while I was there. Doron Yoga is great for a couple of days. Doron is charming, knowledgable and has an exceptional yoga asana practice. After a few days the mask begins showing cracks.

I got to know Doron Hanoch, the owner of this retreat center, over the course of two frightening…read moreand destabilizing weeks. I practiced daily at this center while volunteering my time on strategy, graphics, marketing, and promotion of the New Year's Eve retreat. After repeat incidents of rage and aggressive behavior, shouting, verbal abuse, and even threats by Doron, I ran away out of fear for my safety. Doron demonstrates all the precursors of physical abuse, which always begins with verbal and emotional abuse and uncontrolled angry outbursts. Having spent time with volunteers and with the owner, it's also worth mentioning that Doron Yoga & Zen Center experiences frequent employment turnover and staff dissatisfaction in addition to the owner's alarming temper and volatility. People that come to work or volunteer here tend to leave unhappy because the owner does not get along with anyone. In fact, his previous general manager only lasted a few months. Despite the carefully constructed facade Doron creates in class, the pattern is consistent with narcissism, showing a man who is in a great deal of pain and unwilling to work on himself. The first time I spoke to Doron, I told him I may be interested in doing a teacher training. Instead of discussing in the center's public café as expected, Doron asked me to come to his house, where I sat for two hours while he made passes at me. I kept redirecting the conversation toward business and yoga. I commented that he's being too forward and told him to take it down a notch. Ironically, he went on a heated 10-minute rant about how much he dislikes Bikram because of how Bikram treated women. Doron also talked about the #metoo movement in a way that dismissed its value. Despite the red flags and the tense atmosphere among staff and volunteers, I returned the next day to continue discussing marketing and strategy in exchange for yoga training. Doron was even more forward the second day: he said my physical appearance is "distracting", stood intrusively close to my personal space, and asked me to hug him. Over the course of the next week, I saw a side of Doron that is concealed during his yoga, which now looks to me like a front to conceal or bypass his out-of-control anger issues. He had an angry outburst right in front of another guest, which made both of us visibly uncomfortable. This guest made an early excuse to leave and told me that Doron seems controlling and that he's concerned for my safety. When I asked Doron later why he shouted at me, I was prepared to have a quiet, conscious conversation about what was going on for him. To my shock and disbelief, Doron instead immediately flew into a rage, screaming, yelling, slamming doors, stomping on the stairs, and behaving in a way that frightened me. I was not able to get a word in edgewise or calm him down, and finally gathered my things to leave. He followed me around, shouting and demanding to know why I was leaving and screaming accusations while I tried to get away. A week later, his second temper tantrum was much more frightening. He threw his computer and another object, outright threatened me (him: "you better be careful what you say next" me: "are you threatening me?" him: "yes, yes I am threatening you"), and continued yelling even when his staff entered the house to observe the entire meltdown. Both times I woke up to voicemails from him saying he's sorry and that his anger is "just a part of him". I told him I would only be willing to meet in a public cafe (so he couldn't yell or endanger me), and only because several of my friends booked NYE retreats here based on my marketing work, and we needed to figure out how to handle that. In the end, I told my friends what happened, and they did not feel safe keeping retreat reservations there. It took days for my friends to get their refunds. I told Doron he'd face credit card chargebacks if he didn't refund them. Please read his Google reviews, which corroborate his aggressive behavior, inappropriate interactions with women, and atmosphere of fear at his center. It's so sad, because he's a very talented teacher, but clearly a very tortured person who refuses to acknowledge -- let alone address -- his anger issues, which endanger the people around him.